An enchanting look at
Victorian fashions, jewelry and hairstyles is found in carte de vistas.
These wonderful old photos illustrate how jewelry was worn and how it coordinated with the styles of the time.
Click on each picture for a larger view.

Note: These items were
photographed from private collections, and are for reference only.
Jewelry that is available for sale can be accessed from the links at the bottom of this page.

A starburst brooch centers the high neckline of her costume.
Note her wonderful "specs"!

VICTORIAN lady in
lovely feathered hat. The the face of the north wind ornaments the chair in
which she poses. Photo is 6" by 8", deckled edge and mounted behind
tissue in an embossed folder from "F. A. Webster, Oakland, Cal.". Signed in
pencil "Webster, 1902".

Black lace and many feathers make this a dressy look in
fashion. Her sentimental locket completes the ensemble.

CAMEOS are such
classic beauties. This one has tiny pink enameled butterflies on the
corners of the filigree frame.
View #U14728

SEARS Catalogue 1897
Ladies Hats, Page
301

VICTORIAN locket with acorn and leaf motif, 1-1/2" long. (The acorn
is a symbol of fertility and immortality). Note one small
"beads" of gold has broken off the bottom of the acorn, hard to see without
a loupe. View
#V23363

VICTORIAN lady wearing a
hat decorated with ostrich feathers.
Dressed all in black, the feathers curl attractively around her face. Cabinet card with no markings.

VICTORIAN lady
wearing a hat with feathers and a rhinestone buckle, as well as artificial
flowers on her bodice. Note the tiny bird pin on the underside of her hat. Photo mounted on heavy cardboard with embossed frame
design, 4-1/2" by 9-1/4".

VICTORIAN lady
with fancy feathered hate and gold bar pin. Bar pins came in many
styles and sizes, and were a staple of the jewelry wardrobe. Carte de viste marked "Peterson
& Co., Tracy, Minn.".

PORTRAIT 2-1/8" brooch hand
painted on porcelain in a twisted gold tone setting. This is the same
portrait brooch worn by the lady in the photo shown above.
View #V23717

VICTORIAN
portrait brooch, 2-1/2". This lady dressed in plum is delicately hand
painted on a porcelain disk set into a twisted gold filled setting. Notice
the detail of the feather in her hat.
View #V22943

VICTORIAN lady wearing a long chain with an ornamented slide
and a brooch at her neck.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a slide necklace, earrings and a lace pin.

VICTORIAN lady wearing a hair chain with an engraved gold fob
as an ornament, both of which are suspended from a watch pin at her
neckline.

VICTORIAN lady wearing her gold cross pendant and
jet earbobs.

VICTORIAN ENGLISH
"Souvenir from John O Groats" seashells 2-inch oval
brooch. This is a delight, with each tiny seashell pronged in
place. View
#V18652

SLIDE CHAIN gold filled watch
slide with opal on one side and engraved initials on the other, maker's mark
Y&S on hook, 48".
ViewView
#Q29747

CINER
Deco black enamel and marcasite lapel watch, which would be worn upside-down
from how it is shown in the picture. It is hinged, so that the wearer could
tip it up to read the time.
ViewView
#w16430

VICTORIAN sterling
coins charm bracelet. The 1880's coins were etched and decorated by hand
to create floral motifs and initials. Pieces like this are often called
"sweetheart jewelry", the idea being that sailors did these on board their
ships to bring back to their sweethearts. They were used as charms
for bracelets, as well as ornaments for watch fobs.
ViewViewViewViewViewView
#V20197

VICTORIAN black lace parasol with
hand carved wooden handle and crochet covered decorative tassels. The
black floral
LACE is delicate and in excellent
condition.
TASSELS are crochet-covered, and the wooden handle is all hand carved
with a foliate design. ViewView

High necked blouses and upswept hairdos were a feminine
look for the early 1900's.

Dainty lavalieres are seen in many photographs of the early 1900's.

Sentimental hair locket may have contained the hair of a sweetheart.

Her Czech style necklace was typical of the early 1900's.

EDWARDIAN 10K and seed pearl delicate Edwardian 16" necklace. This has
been treasured for many years and is in magnificent condition, and is so
flattering to wear.
ViewView #Q20325

A bustle exaggerates the back line of this wonderful dress. She might
have worn a chatelaine at her waist. Circa 1885.

Corset stays made this wasp-waisted dress possible, and the draping
watch chain highlights her small waist, circa 1880.

In addition to her decorative belt buckle, this lady wears a
long chain and hair earrings made in the shape of acorns.

A lovely small waist is ornamented with a striped belt and
fancy buckle or sash pin.

CHATELAINE
the mirror is hallmarked Birmingham 1904-05, maker's mark C&N; the pencil
holder is marked Chester 1902-3; the match safe is engraved with the
initials "HHA"; the envelope-shaped stamp holder is hallmarked Birmingham
1977. The length from top to bottom is 9".
ViewViewViewView
#V20954

PLEASE NOTE:Regretfully, it
is no longer possible to respond to individual questions regarding
jewelry history, identification or value, or to offer written or verbal
appraisals or opinions. The demand for this kind of information is
absolutely too overwhelming for one dealer to fill.
I love jewelry, but appraising and selling are two
entirely different businesses, and I choose selling and research as my
business.
Instead, articles are added on a regular basis to JEWEL CHAT on line Magazine, a
wonderful reference for information on many makers and styles of
vintage jewelry.
For information on valuing your jewelry, click
HERE.